Cords and sashes worn during a commencement ceremony are usually reserved for students who have achieved an academic honor. International students may also be wearing cultural sashes from their home countries. Below is a guide to several cords and sashes worn by students during WSC's graduation ceremonies:
- Double red, white, and blue cord - the Military and Veterans Honor Cord, confers special recognition for those who honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Double dark green and gold cord - worn by members of the Honors Program. These students graduate with high honors, honors, or scholar in their majors.
- Gold stole - worn by members of the Philomathean President’s Honorary Society.
- Blue and gold cord - worn by members of FBLA Collegiate, a post-secondary business association.
- Navy blue and gold cord - worn by members of the Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society for all academic disciplines.
- Royal blue and white cord - worn by members of Pi Gamma Mu, a social sciences honor society.
- Platinum silver and dark blue cord, satin stole, and/or a medallion - worn by members of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology.
- Blue and silver cord - worn by members of SHRM, the national professional association Society for Human Resource Management.
- Green and gold cord - worn by members of Sigma Beta Delta, an international business honor society.
- Maroon and white cord - worn by members of Upsilon Pi Epsilon, an international honor society for computing and IT Disciplines.
- Red, gold, and white cord - worn by members of Alpha Lambda Delta, a freshman honorary.
- Royal glue and gold cord with gold tassels - worn by members of Alpha Phi Sigma, a criminal justice honor society.
- Royal blue and white cord - worn by members of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society for graduate students in Counseling.
- Blue and white cord - worn by members of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity.
- Purple and gold cord - worn by members of Delta Sigma Pi, a national professional business fraternity.
- Brown, blue, and yellow cord - worn by members of Gamma Theta Upsilon, a geography honor society.
- Purple and green cord - worn by members of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education.
- Silver cord - worn by members of Kappa Mu Epsilon, a mathematics honor society.
- Gold cord - worn by members of Lambda Pi Eta, a communications honor society.
- Red and blue cord - worn by members of Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society.